Inspectors allow only Dutch online abortion service to continue

The Dutch healthcare inspectorate, IGJ, permitted the only online abortion service in the Netherlands, Thuisabortus.nl, to remain operational despite falling short of proper care duties. The service, launched in March, became the first platform to allow women to receive the abortion pill without a face-to-face visit to a GP or clinic.

The main concern raised by the inspectorate was that women often lacked personal contact with a doctor prior to the pill being prescribed. However, the inspectorate noted no significant risk to patients and thus no reason to shut down the service. In response, Thuisabortus.nl has initiated a series of remedial measures, including making telephone calls to every woman who applies for the pill, discussing pregnancy stage, potential complications, aftercare through her own GP, and alternative options.

The service has prescribed around 1,680 pills since April, accounting for approximately a quarter of all abortion pills issued in the Netherlands. The abortion doctors' association NGvA and the GPs' professional body NHG expressed concerns about the platform's rushed launch and its oversight of certain care aspects. The orthodox Protestant SGP and the ChristenUnie went further, calling for the service's shutdown.

GPs have been able to prescribe the abortion pill since early 2025, after completing additional training. The inspectorate has given Thuisabortus.nl until mid-November to complete the remaining changes.